Educate patients on affordable vision prescription options to achieve better outcomes
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Eye diseases affect people of all ages, including young children and older adults who are among the most vulnerable to these conditions.
In the U.S., glaucoma affects approximately 3 million people, and dry eye disease affects more than 16 million. The CDC previously reported that each year Americans make nearly a million doctor visits for eye infections.
As optometrists and ophthalmologists prescribe medications to treat these and other eye diseases, they find that a growing number of patients are not taking medication as prescribed. One of the main reasons for this nonadherence to treatment protocols is the rising cost of prescription drugs. High deductibles and medications not covered by health plans are just two financial barriers causing patients to forgo needed prescriptions.
Mounting costs of medication
Americans spend more than $1,500 per person annually on prescription drugs, whose prices also tend to be far higher than in other countries, according to CMS. These drugs continue to increase in price, creating affordability challenges for consumers.
An HHS report tracking drug price changes from 2016 to 2022 revealed that “there were 1,216 products whose price increases during the 12-month period from July 2021 to July 2022 exceeded the inflation rate of 8.5% for that time period.” This report also noted that the average price increase for these drugs was a whopping 31.6%, although some drugs in 2022 increased by more than $20,000, or 500%.
The mounting cost of medications is creating affordability challenges for the more than 131 million people — 66% of all adults in the United States — who use prescription drugs. As medications become more costly, consumers find themselves having to forgo them in order to meet basic immediate needs, like putting food on the table. One survey found that an estimated 18 million U.S. adults can’t pay for needed prescriptions, while another reported that three in 10 people indicated they haven’t taken their medication as prescribed due to costs.
Alternative payment solutions
Today, there are alternative payment solutions addressing the need for affordable medication. Digital health technology, such as Visory Health’s mobile app and digital prescription discount card, is a great option that provides patients fast and easy access to lower-cost prescription medications.
Mobile apps make it easy for patients seeking treatment for a number of medical needs to search for their prescriptions, compare prices across local pharmacies and easily access their digital discount card. Consumers can then save on medication by simply showing the digital card on their smartphone to the pharmacist onsite to receive the discounted medication.
These options are not limited to one sector of health care either. Digital health technology can be used in any specialty.
To help ensure patients take medication as directed and achieve better health outcomes, doctors can educate patients on available options like this designed to make prescription drugs more affordable.
The affordability challenge of high-cost prescription drugs is an issue facing the uninsured as well as insured workers enrolled in high-deductible health plans. Many of the 55.7% of American private-sector workers enrolled in these plans don’t meet their yearly high deductible thresholds and must pay for costly medications out of pocket.
What can eye care providers do?
Optometrists and ophthalmologists can provide support for patients struggling with the high cost of medications by initiating financial discussions and highlighting ways patients can save on prescriptions. Providers should make patients aware that insurance plans don’t always have the lowest price on medications and encourage them to compare prices and consider using a pharma copay card or discount card to make prescriptions more affordable.
Online discount cards usually provide heavily discounted generic options, as opposed to the pricier on-brand medications, and are accepted in nearly every retail pharmacy. Physicians can also point patients to patient assistance programs, like that provided by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, which might be able to help them get medications for free or at a discounted price.
Educating patients on all the available options for lowering the cost of medications is more critical than ever in an environment of rising drug costs. When patients have access to more affordable medication, they are more likely to follow advised treatment plans and achieve better health outcomes.
References:
- Don’t let glaucoma steal your sight! https://www.cdc.gov/visionhealth/resources/features/glaucoma-awareness.html.
- Farrand KF, et al. Am J Ophthalmol. 2017;doi:10.1016/j.ajo.2017.06.033.
- Free or discounted medication. https://www.aao.org/eyecare-america/resources/medication-assistance.
- In US, an estimated 18 million can’t pay for needed drugs. https://news.gallup.com/poll/354833/estimated-million-pay-needed-drugs.aspx. Published Sept. 21, 2021.
- Nearly one million doctor visits for eye infections annually in US. https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2014/p1113-eye-infections.html. Published Nov. 13, 2014.
- Prescription Drugs. https://hpi.georgetown.edu/rxdrugs/.
- Price increases for prescription drugs, 2016-2022. https://aspe.hhs.gov/reports/prescription-drug-price-increases. Published Sept. 30, 2022.
- Public opinion on prescription drugs and their prices. https://www.kff.org/health-costs/poll-finding/public-opinion-on-prescription-drugs-and-their-prices/. Published Aug. 4, 2023.
- Rate of workers enrolled in high-deductible health plans jumps for 8th year in row to record 55.7%. https://www.valuepenguin.com/high-deductible-health-plan-study. Published Jan. 30, 2023.
- The Inflation Reduction Act lowers health care costs for millions of Americans. https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/inflation-reduction-act-lowers-health-care-costs-millions-americans. Published Oct. 5, 2022.
For more information:
Susan Lang, MBA, is CEO and founder of Visory Health.
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